Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 6.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1963–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 6.7% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in 2023.
That represents a change of up 12.0% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 8.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1969.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 40th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.1% | — |
| 1964 | 0.2% | +56.7% |
| 1965 | 0.1% | -41.7% |
| 1966 | 0.0% | -53.5% |
| 1968 | 0.0% | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 0.0% | -35.4% |
| 1970 | 0.1% | +72.1% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | +319.5% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +32.6% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | +67.6% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | +138.3% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +88.1% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +27.7% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +13.8% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | -29.4% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | -26.0% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | -45.0% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | +267.5% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -55.1% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +40.0% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | +31.1% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | +56.7% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | +9.0% |
| 2008 | 6.5% | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 6.6% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -15.2% |
| 2019 | 3.5% | -44.5% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +24.2% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | +82.5% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | -25.1% |
| 2023 | 6.7% | +12.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 6.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.4%, 91% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 6.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +319.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2000 | +267.5% | 1.0% | 3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 6 |
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 0.3% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 1.6% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 3.5% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 4.4% | 8.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More private sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Merchandise trade 66.1% (2025)
- Food imports 4.8% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 50.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 28.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.6% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 17.9% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 32.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 284.49 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3526 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 7.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Democratic Republic of Congo was 6.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1969.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 40th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.